What did Montesquieu believe?

Charles Montesquieu believed that an effective government was one in which the legislative, executive and judicial branches were all separate entities. He felt that each branch of government needed to keep the others in check to prevent one from having too much power.

Charles Montesquieu was born in France in 1698. As soon as he was able, he began traveling through Europe looking at different forms of government. He went on to write about his findings and his recommendations in books such as "The Spirit of the Laws" in 1748. He never hid the fact that he hated absolute governments, and his ideas went on to be used during the formation of the United States government.